Towards T Cell Immunotherapies Targeting Senescent Cancer Cells
A robust discussion is ongoing in the cancer research community about targeting senescent cells for cancer therapy. While clearing senescent cells post-treatment is beneficial, destroying them during treatment may not always be advantageous. However, adapting T cell immunotherapies to target senescent tumor cells shows promise. Recent evidence suggests using tumor-associated senescent cells as sources of peptide antigens for anticancer vaccine development. This approach could lead to stronger and more directed immunotherapeutic strategies. Additionally, targeting senescent cells may have implications beyond cancer therapy for aging and age-related diseases.
The exploitation of the patient’s immune system to eliminate cancer cells has shown great success. Understanding the immune system has led to the design of innovative anticancer therapies. However, tumor cells are often poor antigen-presenting cells, hindering immune responses. Targeting senescent cells in the context of cancer and aging could overcome these limitations by activating a T cell-specific response against senescent cells near the tumor. This approach could utilize the senescence-associated secretory phenotype of tumor-associated senescent cells to generate a robust tumor-specific T cell response, potentially enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
